Security today is perceived as an issue that affects not only European governments but also social partners. This is one of the fundamental pillars of society and the basis of freedom and equality for the full development of each individual.

What are the net quantitative effects of structural reforms in the European rail sector to-date? Is any specific model systematically superior to the others based on the empirical record? Would a tightening of EU separation requirements be economically justified?

The study, undertaken by consultants CE Delft, INFRAS and ISI for the International Union of Railways (UIC), found that per passenger-km, the external costs of cars or aviation are about four times those of rail transport, with a similar pattern for freight transport.